David Bazan has been making heartfelt, honest, and genuine music for over twenty years now. I first began following him in the early 2000s when he was playing with the band Pedro the Lion. I was instantly drawn to the deliberate and intriguing guitar playing, his intense and thoughtful lyrics, and an overall vibe that was, and still is, incredibly unique. I was an Evangelical Christian, as was David Bazan. Over the last twenty or so years, my faith journey has paralleled his in many ways. I have followed him and found inspiration in his questions and his unswerving honesty.

Last year Brandon Vedder released a film he had been working on for a number of years called “Strange Negotiations.” Brandon followed Dave around the country on tour and shot video of his fans asking faith-related questions and his responses. I had a chance to chat with Brandon about the film, Dave’s music, and the state of politics and religion in America. It’s a film that deals with these profound and difficult issues with a sense of fairness and openness that is rare.